When the news broke that Mike Tyson would be boxing Jake Paul, many wondered why the legendary boxer would face off against a YouTuber-turned-boxer. The answer, as Tyson recently revealed in an interview with Esquire’s Timothy Bella, is quintessentially Tyson.

“Can I be honest?” Tyson said. “I don’t think he can hurt me.”

Tyson’s confidence might be misplaced, given Paul’s respectable 9-1 record in the ring. However, the reasons behind Tyson’s decision go beyond mere confidence. As Bella highlighted, Tyson is a self-proclaimed “glory junkie.”

“I’m a glory junkie. I love people thinking about me all day,” Tyson confessed. “I’d rather live a short life of glory than a long life of obscurity. It’s just who I am.”

Tyson, 58, hasn’t fought in four years, and his drive to return isn’t just about proving his toughness against the 27-year-old Paul. It’s about chasing the fame and recognition that initially fueled his career.

“This is all I started fighting for — to get all this f***ing status. I’m going to be chasing it for the rest of my life. I know that. I’m never going to get what I want, because I’m one of those gluttons for pain. I can never get enough,” Tyson admitted.

Fighting Paul is a way for Tyson to recapture the “glorious feeling” of his prime days. It’s also an attempt to satisfy his insatiable desire for pain and recognition. The bout, initially scheduled for mid-July, was postponed to November due to Tyson suffering an ulcer flare-up in May.

While Tyson prepares for his November bout, Paul will face former UFC fighter and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship star Mike Perry on Saturday.

As fans await the Tyson-Paul match, one thing is clear: for Tyson, this fight is about more than just a return to the ring. It’s a quest for the glory and recognition that he has always craved.